Luke 11:1-13
1 One day Jesus was praying in a certain place. When he finished, one of his disciples said to him, "Lord, teach us to pray, just as John taught his disciples." 2 He said to them, "When you pray, say: " 'Father, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come. 3 Give us each day our daily bread. 4 Forgive us our sins, for we also forgive everyone who sins against us. And lead us not into temptation. '" 5 Then Jesus said to them, "Suppose you have a friend, and you go to him at midnight and say, 'Friend, lend me three loaves of bread; 6 a friend of mine on a journey has come to me, and I have nothing to set before him.' 7 And suppose the one inside answers, 'Don't bother me. The door is already locked, and my children and I are in bed. I can't get up and give you anything.' 8 I tell you, even though he will not get up and give you the bread because of friendship, yet because of your shameless audacity he will surely get up and give you as much as you need. 9 "So I say to you: Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. 10 For everyone who asks receives; those who seek find; and to
those who knock, the door will be opened. 11 "Which of you fathers, if your son asks for a fish, will give him a snake instead? 12 Or if he asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion? 13 If you then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!"
I switched to the Gospel reading above from the one I’d posted a couple days ago on Hosea 1:2-10 because the Hosea passage might not have been one that was as accessible for a diverse audience as Jesus’ teachings on prayer and because we could probably all benefit from some time focused in on prayer. The disciples ask Jesus to teach them to pray and two thousand years later we’re asking Jesus the same question, even though many of us have memorized his answer. That makes sense really. Prayer is a pretty amazing thing. The idea that we could communicate with the Maker of the Universe any time we wanted and he will hear us is staggering in itself, but then we have to ask, ‘Well, how?’ We know cognitively how, but when it comes to actually doing it, it’s not always so easy. So have a look at this passage. What does it say to you about how we pray and how God responds. Please share your thoughts in a comment.
1 One day Jesus was praying in a certain place. When he finished, one of his disciples said to him, "Lord, teach us to pray, just as John taught his disciples." 2 He said to them, "When you pray, say: " 'Father, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come. 3 Give us each day our daily bread. 4 Forgive us our sins, for we also forgive everyone who sins against us. And lead us not into temptation. '" 5 Then Jesus said to them, "Suppose you have a friend, and you go to him at midnight and say, 'Friend, lend me three loaves of bread; 6 a friend of mine on a journey has come to me, and I have nothing to set before him.' 7 And suppose the one inside answers, 'Don't bother me. The door is already locked, and my children and I are in bed. I can't get up and give you anything.' 8 I tell you, even though he will not get up and give you the bread because of friendship, yet because of your shameless audacity he will surely get up and give you as much as you need. 9 "So I say to you: Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. 10 For everyone who asks receives; those who seek find; and to
those who knock, the door will be opened. 11 "Which of you fathers, if your son asks for a fish, will give him a snake instead? 12 Or if he asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion? 13 If you then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!"I switched to the Gospel reading above from the one I’d posted a couple days ago on Hosea 1:2-10 because the Hosea passage might not have been one that was as accessible for a diverse audience as Jesus’ teachings on prayer and because we could probably all benefit from some time focused in on prayer. The disciples ask Jesus to teach them to pray and two thousand years later we’re asking Jesus the same question, even though many of us have memorized his answer. That makes sense really. Prayer is a pretty amazing thing. The idea that we could communicate with the Maker of the Universe any time we wanted and he will hear us is staggering in itself, but then we have to ask, ‘Well, how?’ We know cognitively how, but when it comes to actually doing it, it’s not always so easy. So have a look at this passage. What does it say to you about how we pray and how God responds. Please share your thoughts in a comment.
1 comments:
If others are at all like me when we prapy the prayer that Jesus taught the disciples, it is really a rote response without much thought most of the time. My ;understanding of the prayer is that it is an outline to what we should be praying. Would there be any merit to using it as an outline for the congregational prayer in as much as it covers all of that which we should be praying about.
i.e. Our Father: "Help us to recognize that all that we are and all that we have comes from you Father and not from our own hands."
Which are in heaven: "You are high above us and we pause to recognize that your dwelling is not ours, but a place where there is no sin and glory shines beyond our comprehension.
Hallowed be thy name: Holy, Holy, Holy. Your name is above all names. You are 'God' not a god. We recognize your greatness within the creation in which we live. what you have done cannot be done by man. May we consider Holy all that you have created and seek your guidance in care of the creation which includes not only nature, but humankind. May we respect and recognize that there is good in all.
Thy Kingdom come, Thy will be done: "May all of our efforts in life be directed toward that which we preceive to be what your will is for this world."
Give us this day our daily bread: Provide for us enough to subsist and may we use the excess to provide for those whom are not as fortunate and are dying of hunger, cold and illness."
And forgive us our sins as we forgive those who have sinned against us." That is very straight forward, Lord. May we carry no grudges, no malice toward another, no wanting of revenge. There is no middle ground. We wish to be Jesus' disciple. To be completely like Him. May we treat others as he treat us."
This does not cover the individual needs of concern; spiritual, emotional, or physical illness, but if our prayer is sincere, life changes will take place and the pervasion of love which would grow among us would in and of itself change those around us who have not experienced the love of God.
If as a congregation we are to be a light in the community, prayer has to be the ignitor.
Ted
Post a Comment